Restaurants in Pennsylvania have been warned by the U.S. Agriculture Department of a potential scam involving an unidentified caller claiming to be a health inspector seeking business information.
Restaurants in Venango and York counties have recently received the suspicious calls. Earlier this year, establishments in Bucks, Chester, Cumberland and Montgomery counties experienced similar calls.
Agriculture secretary Russell C. Redding said the caller is not a licensed agent of the state or any county.
Inspections by the state Department of Agriculture’s food sanitarians are always unannounced. Sanitarians require proper identification, including photo card and badge.
Businesses that receive any suspicious calls similar to these are encouraged to report the incidents to the department.
